East Hertfordshire

East Hertfordshire's population increased by about 8,800 between the last two censuses. This semi-automated article highlights some of the key changes among the local population.

The population reached nearly 140,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of East Hertfordshire increased by 6.8%, from almost 129,000 to 138,000.

The addition of almost 8,800 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, East Hertfordshire was home to, on average, 2.1 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was similar to the average across Eastof England

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across Eastof England, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older East Hertfordshire

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of East Hertfordshire increased by three years, from 37 to 40 years.

This area had a slightly higher average age than Eastof England and became slightly older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of just under 4,500 people between the ages of 40 and 49 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by just over 3,000.

About 17.0% of people in East Hertfordshire are aged between 40 and 49 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and East Hertfordshire by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

More people living alone

East Hertfordshire saw Eastof England's largest rise in the proportion of one-person households.

In 2011, just under 3 in 10 (27.8%) households in East Hertfordshire had only one person, compared with 25.8% in 2001. The percentage of households comprising an unmarried couple increased from 9.5% to 10.6%.

Across the region, Dacorum saw the next largest increase in the proportion of one-person households (from 27.1% in 2001 to 28.8% in 2011).

The percentage of households with only one person was lower than across Eastof England

Percentage of households that comprised only one person across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in East Hertfordshire

The 2011 Census asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, the largest percentage point increase in East Hertfordshire was among those who said they had no religion, rising 11.7 points.

In 2011, 29.9% of respondents in East Hertfordshire gave this religion on the census compared with 18.2% of those who answered in 2001.

Across Eastof England, the percentage of people who answered the question on religion that described themselves as having no religion increased from 18.2% to 30.0%, while across England the percentage went from 15.7% to 26.5%.

Of those who disclosed their religion in Newham, 67.7% said they were Christian, compared with 79.9% in 2001. About 0.1% said they were Sikh, compared with 0.1% 10 years prior.

The percentage of people who disclosed a religious affiliation and did not state their religion increased from 7.2% to 7.8%.

In East Hertfordshire, 7.3% chose not to answer the question on religious affiliation, compared with 6.7% in 2001. In East, 7.3% did not answer the voluntary question, compared with 7.7% in 2001. Across England, 7.2% of people did not answer, compared with 7.7% in 2001.

The population without a religion in East Hertfordshire increased by 11 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents who answered the voluntary question on religion in England, East and East Hertfordshire by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in East Hertfordshire

The percentage of East Hertfordshire residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 2.0% to 2.5% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

The percentage who reported being limited a little in their day-to-day activities remained close to 6.9%, while the percentage of East Hertfordshire residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability remained close to 90.7%.

The proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 2.7% in 2001 to 3.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.1% to 3.8%.

The proportion of people who are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability was lower than across Eastof England

Percentage of usual residents that reported being considerably limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in East Hertfordshire that rented privately increased from 8.2% to 13.2% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

The percentage that lived in social housing remained close to 12.8%, while the percentage of East Hertfordshire households that owned their home decreased from 76.3% to 71.9%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased here at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 8.6% in 2001 to 14.6% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.9% to 16.9%.

Private renting in East Hertfordshire increased by 5 percentage points

Percentage of households in East Hertfordshire, Eastof England and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

More single people in East Hertfordshire

The percentage of single people in East Hertfordshire increased from 27.6% to 30.5% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just over one in two (52.5%) people aged 16 and over said they were married, compared with 56.5% in 2001. The percentage of adults in East Hertfordshire that had divorced or separated from a married or civil partner increased from 9.3% to 10.8%.

The proportion of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased at a slower rate here than the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 27.4% in 2001 to 31.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 30.5% to 34.9%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership was lower than across Eastof England

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were single across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in East Hertfordshire working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 15.4% to 12.8% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just over 1 in 40 (2.7%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 1.9% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 14.7% in 2001 to 11.2% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 13.0% to 10.1%.

Long hour working in East Hertfordshire decreased by 2.6 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in East Hertfordshire, Eastof England and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of East Hertfordshire residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 5.8% to 3.4% in the decade to 2011.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just under 9 in 10 (86.2%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 75.2% in 2001. The percentage of East Hertfordshire residents that described their health as fair decreased from 19.0% to 10.4%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 7.6% in 2001 to 4.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in East Hertfordshire decreased by 2.5 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in East Hertfordshire, Eastof England and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in East Hertfordshire

In 2011, 95.5% of East Hertfordshire residents said they were from one of the White ethnic groups, up from from 97.1% in 2001.

Across Eastof England, the percentage of people from one of the White ethnic groups fell from 94.9% to 90.4%, while across England the percentage went from 90.7% to 85.1%.

Around 2.0% of people in East Hertfordshire said they were from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups, compared with 1.4% in 2001. About 1.6% said they were from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed), compared with 0.9% 10 years prior.

The percentage of people who said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups increased from 0.4% to 0.7%.

The population from one of the White ethnic groups in East Hertfordshire decreased by 1.6 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and East Hertfordshire by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in rate of unemployment

The percentage of East Hertfordshire residents that were unemployed increased from 1.6% to 2.9% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just under 6 in 10 (57.8%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were employed, compared with 58.8% in 2001. The percentage of East Hertfordshire residents that were self-employed increased from 10.8% to 12.3%.

The proportion of unemployed people increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 2.6% in 2001 to 3.8% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.4% to 4.4%.

The rate of unemployment in East Hertfordshire increased by 1.3 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in East Hertfordshire, Eastof England and England that said they were unemployed, March 2001 and March 2011

Change in unpaid care provision

The percentage of East Hertfordshire residents that provided at least 50 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 1.3% to 1.5% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

The percentage who reported providing between 20 and 49 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 0.7%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 1.8% in 2001 to 2.2% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 2.1% to 2.4%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care in East Hertfordshire remained close to 1.5%

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and East Hertfordshire by care, March 2001 and March 2011

Changes in family structure

The percentage of households in East Hertfordshire with only adult children living with their parents decreased from 9.3% to 9.1% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

The percentage that had at least one dependent child remained close to 31.0%, while the percentage of households in East Hertfordshire without children decreased from 59.7% to 59.5%.

The proportion of households with adult children living with their parents fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 9.3% in 2001 to 9.6% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.4% to 9.6%.

The proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents was lower than across Eastof England

Percentage of households where a parent lived with their adult children across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

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Area report data

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